Southern Interior braces for winter storm with blast of Arctic air

Howard Alexander - News Editor

Bundle up, a winter storm and blast of Arctic air is coming.

(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

November 22, 2015 - 9:30 AM

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The first Arctic outbreak of the season is going to blow through the Thompson-Okanagan bringing blowing snow, cold temperatures and “crummy travel conditions,” according to Environment Canada.

A special weather statement, which covers most of southern B.C., has been issued by Environment Canada warning of a winter storm expected with the worst of it hitting tomorrow, Nov. 22.

It will all start with light snow spreading over the Southern Interior tonight as an upper trough over the Pacific intensifies, forecasters say. At the same time, an Arctic high-pressure system in Northern B.C. will also grow stronger and shove the frigid air southward.

The forecast calls for between five to 15 centimetres of snow by tomorrow afternoon. The Columbia region will get the most snow.

The weather system will continue to produce snow throughout the region on Tuesday. Environment Canada says snowfall warning could be issued.

“By early Tuesday morning the leading edge of the Arctic air — the Arctic front — will be poised to traverse the Southern Interior,” the weather statement says.

As the cold air arrives, temperatures will fall, windchills will worsen and blowing snow will create poor visibility on the highways.

Forecasters predict the storm will end by Tuesday evening and the Southern Interior will settle into “four to six days of chilly but otherwise weather-less winter days.”

Temperatures during the storm will be pretty much normal for this time of year with highs just above 0 Celsius and lows just below 0 C, but by midweek the Arctic air will push the mercury down, with lows around minus 9 C and highs around minus 3 C.

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